Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission

10/07/2021

New Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program to Launch in October

As part of an ongoing effort to address the financial impact of COVID-19, Iowa has received over $10 million in federal aid to help households that have fallen behind in water bills and are facing disconnection of service or have already been disconnected.

What is Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)?

The new federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) will provide assistance in the form of benefit payments made directly to water vendors on behalf of households for past-due charges, fees, and taxes for drinking and wastewater services. The program will be administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights and locally through Iowa’s Community Action Agencies that serve all 99 counties.

What is the application process?

Iowans may apply by contacting their local Community Action Agency starting October 8, 2021. To locate the agency nearest you, please visit https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply or call the Iowa Department of Human Rights at 515-242-3861.

Program eligibility mirrors that of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), meaning applicants must qualify to receive federal LIHEAP benefits, total household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and a current water crisis must be present.

When will the program end?

The application period is open year-round. LIHWAP will run through September 30, 2023, or until funds are exhausted.

To learn more about LIHWAP, visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/lihwap or contact your local community action agency.

06/19/2021

Join AFES Athletics For Education and Success, Pleasant Valley Awareness, NAACP-FD, Second Baptist Church and Building Community for a Juneteenth Celebration from 11-3 today at H.C. Meriweather Park.

04/24/2021

This training is intended to be the first in a series of conversations, training, summits around the issues of race, culture, diversity, racism, privilege, leadership and change. Look at it like this is a marathon not a sprint, and we are going to begin the stretching and warm up part, with the training to run the marathon next and then the actual marathon itself. There are daily tracks available for City Employees, Criminal Justice Employees, Corrections, Health Care Professionals, Educators, Community Members and Business Professionals.
(1 Day = 7 Hours, *In Person or Virtual)
*The event will follow ICCC Campus Covid-19 Protocol: www.iowacentral.edu/covid-19/events.asp

Register Now - Space is limited:
https://web.cvent.com/event/6789e26e-ea6c-4a3d-a779-cde2bd7d5cab/summary

02/03/2021

The City of Fort Dodge & Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission is proud to honor the history and contributions of Black Americans in our community, throughout our state and nation.

01/18/2021

11/06/2020

As community service organizations we are coming together to plea to the community to please help in our fight against COVID-19:

It is crucial for the public to understand that the challenges we are facing as a community are very real and urgent. UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge is seeing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations. They continue to work closely with community partners to ensure they have the necessary beds, equipment, staffing and PPE to safely care for our community and the communities surrounding Fort Dodge and Webster county, whether it is COVID-19 or other illness or injury. And they have plans in place should there be a need for additional coronavirus care.

Webster County Health Department's contact tracing is identifying cluster events with multiple COVID-19 contacts, which results in additional exposures and more positive cases. COVID-19 positive cases are rapidly increasing.

We are at a critical point in our state’s fight against COVID-19. We need to flatten the curve of increased cases to not overwhelm, not only our healthcare system, but our skilled nursing facilities and our public health system. In order to avoid healthcare resource capacity concerns we need your help. It is going to take every one of us doing our part to get this virus under control.

Please protect your family, your community, and your local health care workers by:

• Wearing a mask. And if you are a business owner, please require patrons of your business to wear a mask while in your establishment.
• Washing your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when hand washing isn’t an option.
• Staying home when you are sick.
• Practicing social distancing. Limit your groups to less than 10 people. If your group is larger than 10 people, require that all parties wear a mask, including gatherings like weddings and funerals.
• And getting your flu shot.

Please consider the safety and well-being of your friends and family, especially as the holidays are approaching. If we work together, we can reduce the COVID positivity numbers.

Leah Glasgo, CEO/President
UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge

Kari Prescot, Director
Webster County Health Department

Mark Campbell, Supervisor
Webster County Supervisors

David Fierke, City Manager
City of Fort Dodge

Roger Porter, Chief of Police
Fort Dodge Police Department

11/05/2020

Come join us!

The Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission is actively seeking a Fort Dodge resident to serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. Due to a need for balance, minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit www.fortdodgeiowa.org/humanrights to learn more. Apply online at www.fortdodgeiowa.org/boards/application.

11/04/2020

The Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission is actively seeking a Fort Dodge resident to serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. Due to a need for balance, minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit www.fortdodgeiowa.org/humanrights to learn more. Apply online at www.fortdodgeiowa.org/boards/application.

08/10/2020

If you haven't already, take advantage of this great program the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance has been offering. Purchase a $35 gift card for only $25! There's lots of local businesses included and a limited number available, so buy yours when they go on sale at 10 am this morning.

Thank you to this week's Love Local supporter, City of Fort Dodge Government
Gift cards are available for purchase starting TODAY at 10:00 a.m.

07/01/2020

Congratulations to the 2020 recipient of the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice, the Honorable Chief Justice Mark Cady.

This medal recognizes and honors the accomplishments of Cristine Wilson, first chair of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women. First appointed to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women in 1969, Wilson was a key force in the passage of the legislation that established the Commission as a statutory agency in 1972. During her service as chair, major legislation was passed that reduced s*x discrimination and enhanced women’s rights.

Wilson’s efforts were unceasing and her commitment was exemplary. The Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice is awarded selectively to an individual who has made significant contributions to the principles of equality and justice in the state of Iowa.

The Honorable Chief Justice Mark Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa): Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court 2011-2019; wrote the historical Varnum v. Brien opinion in 2009, legalizing same-s*x marriage in Iowa; emphasized new ideas such as digital messaging for defendants and law enforcement; rotating Iowa Supreme Court hearings around the State of Iowa; received countless achievement and leadership awards from Drake University, Buena Vista University and many other recognitions from legal entities such as the Iowa State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Iowa Judges Association and Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, among many others. Chief Justice Mark Cady passed away unexpectedly in 2019. Posthumous award.